Door handle sanitation system

ABSTRACT

The present invention is directed toward an apparatus for sanitary exiting of public restroom facilities. In particular, the present invention provides a device for convenient, sanitary use of public restroom door handles during opening the door while exiting. A device is configured to the interior of a restroom door where a dispenser is mounted above a receptacle unit. The dispenser may contain antibacterial wipes, paper towels, or facial tissues. A restroom patron, after washing their hands, removes a towelette from the dispenser and applies it to the restroom door handle as a barrier between their hand and the handle. The restroom patron then deposits the towelette in the receptacle unit prior to exiting the restroom.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed toward an apparatus for sanitary exiting of public restroom facilities. In particular, the present invention provides a device for convenient, sanitary use of public restroom door handles during opening the door while exiting.

2. Background Information

It has been well documented that frequent hand washing is the best method of preventing the spread of infectious disease, whether bacterial in nature or viral in nature. This simple method of disease prevention and control has been endorsed from nearly every medical source from the American Medical Association to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, no matter how effective the measure of prevention may be, it only works if it is consistently practiced. Moreover, in a situation where a number of people are continuously contacting a particular surface, it only takes one person's failure to practice proper hygiene to potentially infect the others.

No place is this more prevalent than public restroom facilities. By the nature of the facility persons leaving the facility without thoroughly washing their hands potentially transport numerous germs and bacteria. To compound the potential for spreading the same, persons leaving a public restroom facility are all touching the same spot, the door handle. This, of course, presents no problems if everyone practices proper hygiene; however, clearly everyone does not.

In order to combat this problem, many take an extra precaution when leaving the restroom. After drying their hands, they take an extra paper towel and use it as a barrier between their hand and the door when opening the door. However, in most restrooms, a waste basket is not conveniently place near the exit, leaving the restroom patron to either take the paper towel with them or drop it at the entrance of the door. The latter, in turn, leads to a host of other sanitation problems. Additionally, many restrooms now utilize automatic, hot air hand dryers, leaving the sanitary patron no alternative outside of taking their chances that all those that previously accessed the door also practiced thorough hand washing techniques.

In view of the limitations of products currently known in the art, a tremendous need exists for a convenient apparatus for sanitary access to the handle of a public restroom door. Applicant's invention, by its novel design provides a solution in view of currently available devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device for sanitary access to a restroom door handle that is convenient.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device for sanitary access to a restroom door handle that is effective.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device for sanitary access to a restroom door handle that is simple to use.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device for sanitary access to a restroom door handle that creates a barrier between a person's hand and the handle of a door.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device for sanitary access to a restroom door handle that aids in the prevention of infectious disease.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device for sanitary access to a restroom door handle that provides for disposal of any waste produced.

In satisfaction of these and other related objectives, the present invention provides a device for sanitary access to a restroom door handle that is effective, easy to use, and aids in controlling the spread of infectious disease. As will be discussed in the specification to follow, practice of the present invention involves a combination of components so configured as to provide an effective barrier between the handle of a restroom door and the patron's hand, while simultaneously providing for the sanitary disposal of any waste produced.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention incorporates a door mounting member, a towel dispensing member, and a waste receptacle member in a novel, yet non-obvious configuration for placement in conjunction with the interior of a restroom door. The towel dispensing member is configured in the upper portion of the mounting member. The towel dispensing member is further configured to store and dispense a plurality of facial tissues, paper towels, or sanitary wipes positioned at a convenient height for the typical restroom patron. Additionally, a waste receptacle member is mounted to the door mounting member beneath the towel dispensing member at such a distance from the dispensing member as to allow convenient access of the restroom patron. Finally, the mounting member is mounted to the interior of a restroom door at a height, which gives convenient access to a typical restroom patron.

In practice, the preferred embodiment of the present invention is envisioned to be used in the following manner. First, the restroom patron thoroughly washes and dries their hands as known in the art. Next, the patron proceeds to the restroom exit door, wherein they remove a towel from the towel dispenser, apply the towel to the door handle, and open the door. Finally, as the patron exits the doorway, the towel is deposited into the waste receptacle member for sanitary disposal.

In summary, then, an embodiment of the present invention provides a system for sanitary access to a public restroom door handle as well as disposal of any waste generated, while supplying a highly effective, convenient and simple method for preventing the spread of infectious disease.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Applicant's invention may be further understood from a description of the accompanying drawings, wherein unless otherwise specified, like referenced numerals are intended to depict like components in the various views.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus of the present invention installed to the interior of a restroom door.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, a device for providing sanitary access to the handle of a restroom door is shown installed to the interior of a restroom door and generally designated by the numeral 10. Device (10) may be comprised of any number of materials as known in the art including a number of metallic materials or injection molded thermoplastic materials. In the preferred embodiment, the primary components of the present invention incorporate a mounting member (12), a dispensing member (14), and a receptacle member (16).

Still referring to FIG. 1, dispensing member (14) is attached to mounting member (12) in a manner suitable to the materials chosen as known in the art. Dispensing member (14) is attached to the upper portion of mounting member (14) and configured is such a way as to allow easy access to the dispensing units (18) to an average sized restroom patron when properly mounted. Additionally, receptacle (16) is configured near the lower portion mounting member (14) such that adequate space exists between dispenser (14) and receptacle (16) to allow convenient access to each. Finally, mounting member (12) is configured to mount to door (20) by any of a number of mounting means (22) as known in the art, such as adhesive or fasteners. Finally, device (10) is mounted to door (20) so as to allow convenient access of both the dispensing member and the receptacle member to a typical, public restroom patron.

In the preferred embodiment, dispensing units (18) comprise a moist towelette, saturated in an antibacterial solution. This solution enhances the disease prevention function of device (10) by adding an additional cleansing step to both the user's hands and the restroom door handle (24). However, dispensing units may also be plain facial tissues or paper towels as known in the art.

In practice, device (10) may be used in the following manner. First, a restroom patron thoroughly washes their hands. Next, the patron proceeds to door (20) and retrieves one dispensing unit (18) from dispensing member (14). The patron then applies dispensing unit (18) to handle (24) of door (20), while opening door (20), as a barrier between the patron's hand and handle (24) of door (20) itself. Finally, prior to their final exit, patron deposits dispensing unit (18) into receptacle member (16).

Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limited sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments of the inventions will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description of the invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claims will cover such modifications that fall within the scope of the invention. 

1. An apparatus for sanitary access to a restroom door handle, comprising: a mounting member, said mounting member configured for mounting said apparatus to a door via an attachment means; a dispensing member, said dispensing member configured for substantially enclosing a plurality of dispensing units, said dispensing member having an opening for manually dispensing said dispensing units, said dispensing member being attached to the upper portion of said mounting member; and a receptacle member, said receptacle member being attached to the lower portion of said mounting member, said receptacle member being positioned beneath said dispensing member.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plurality of dispensing units are moist towelettes saturated in antibacterial solution.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plurality of dispensing units are paper towels.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plurality of dispensing units are facial tissues.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said attachment means is an adhesive.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said attachment means is a fastener.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said receptacle member is larger in size than said dispensing member.
 8. A restroom door unit, comprising: a door member; a handle member, said handle member attached to said door member; a mounting member, said mounting member attached to said door member via an attachment means, said mounting member positioned adjacent said handle member; a dispensing member, said dispensing member attached to the upper portion of said mounting member, said dispensing member configured to substantially enclose a plurality of dispensing units, said dispensing member configured to manually dispense said dispensing units; and a receptacle member, said receptacle member attached to the lower portion of said mounting member, said receptacle member configured beneath said dispensing member, said receptacle member being larger in size than said dispensing member.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said attachment means is an adhesive.
 10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said attachment means is a fastener.
 11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said plurality of dispensing units are moist towelettes saturated with antibacterial solution.
 12. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said plurality of dispensing units are paper towels.
 13. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said plurality of dispensing units are facial tissues. 